tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79921981318507759342018-03-05T13:01:32.941-06:00Where my Heart isMelissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-43392533264189417722011-11-07T16:34:00.000-06:002011-11-07T16:34:00.742-06:00Its a horse!On Saturday the agency that I work for had an adoption celebration.&nbsp; So G and I headed down the road to celebrate.&nbsp; There was lots of things to do, a blow up bouncy slide, a hayride (which G was not interested in) but the best was a horse ride.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZV_vplKj3Q/Trg7Hfo8FqI/AAAAAAAAANA/DcCtwuSp3R8/s1600/100_2939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RZV_vplKj3Q/Trg7Hfo8FqI/AAAAAAAAANA/DcCtwuSp3R8/s400/100_2939.JPG" width="400" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That face is the best thing ever.&nbsp; The excitement, the joy.&nbsp; It makes me smile.&nbsp; I wasn't sure that the picture would capture what was on his face.&nbsp; It was bright outside and I was starring into the sun, but I think I captured it pretty well. &nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxkrtw8tmT0/Trg7K4DyIHI/AAAAAAAAANI/AzBi7U9lySE/s1600/100_2936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hxkrtw8tmT0/Trg7K4DyIHI/AAAAAAAAANI/AzBi7U9lySE/s320/100_2936.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjFFluCJMuI/Trg7OUdIjwI/AAAAAAAAANQ/D6Uodkxpv-U/s1600/100_2937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tjFFluCJMuI/Trg7OUdIjwI/AAAAAAAAANQ/D6Uodkxpv-U/s320/100_2937.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M-i71dyy3g/Trg7qQ2O_VI/AAAAAAAAANg/qkgKX-hyQGw/s1600/100_2938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7M-i71dyy3g/Trg7qQ2O_VI/AAAAAAAAANg/qkgKX-hyQGw/s320/100_2938.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />We then ate hot dogs and painted a picture of what adoption meant to us.&nbsp; Gizatu said it means we are a family.&nbsp; The boy said it all.<br /><br /><br /><span id="goog_101365771"></span><span id="goog_101365772"></span>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-62302177336161058222011-11-04T22:41:00.000-05:002011-11-04T22:41:02.922-05:00I'm going to try to do better!So its been over 2 months since I've blogged.&nbsp; I'm one of those bloggers.&nbsp; The ones that are on your feed and you look each day, then each week, then every couple of weeks, then you stop looking to see if there is any new blogs because there never is.&nbsp; So I'm going to try better.&nbsp; I'm going to try and do at least one blog a week.&nbsp; I'm not promising, but I'm going to try.&nbsp;<br /><br />Gizatu is slightly obssessed with having a dad.&nbsp; But along with the dad, comes a van, and a baby.&nbsp; He wants a dad, a van, and a baby, a sister to be exact.&nbsp; At random times he'll tell me that I need to get married.&nbsp; One day he told me that I was getting married.&nbsp; Does this kid know something that I don't?&nbsp; Don't get me wrong, a husband would be lovely.&nbsp; A man who loves me and my kid, and whom I love and my kid loves.&nbsp; Someone to come home to at night.&nbsp; Someone to help with the kid.&nbsp; But as of now its just me and him.&nbsp;<br /><br />He asked me the other day, if he'd have to go to Africa if something happened to me.&nbsp; I think he knows that he is mine and that he will be with me forever, but he knows that he came to me because his Africa mommy couldn't take care of him, so if I can't take care of him does that mean he goes back to Africa.&nbsp; Things that a 3 year old shouldn't have to even consider, but its one of the losses of adoption.&nbsp; I of course assured him that he would go to live with his Uncle Daniel.&nbsp; And he told me that he didn't want to live with them, but wanted to live with me.&nbsp; There was a time when he'd been home for just a while that I wouldn't have been sure that he would have said that.&nbsp; It does make me feel like he truly knows that I am his mother.&nbsp;<br /><br />Now on a happier note, Gizatu and I joined some friends at our local zoo's halloween time.&nbsp; Our boys got dressed up and off we went.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iy6PAIhrS00/TrSvH74iVCI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bsmyqvC2ayE/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iy6PAIhrS00/TrSvH74iVCI/AAAAAAAAAMA/bsmyqvC2ayE/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />They danced the night away.&nbsp; And I got in on the action too.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYjKXXP4Oxc/TrSvjNwa-WI/AAAAAAAAAMI/oK3yU7S0iFI/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BYjKXXP4Oxc/TrSvjNwa-WI/AAAAAAAAAMI/oK3yU7S0iFI/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRX8BGVYrQg/TrSvnPbJhVI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jcTWGSAWlHA/s1600/DSC_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xRX8BGVYrQg/TrSvnPbJhVI/AAAAAAAAAMQ/jcTWGSAWlHA/s320/DSC_0027.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />We trick or treated and rode the train and carousel.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-Qz-6f8TRw/TrSv28BUfUI/AAAAAAAAAMY/L9WTwcjUSQo/s1600/DSC_0014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9-Qz-6f8TRw/TrSv28BUfUI/AAAAAAAAAMY/L9WTwcjUSQo/s320/DSC_0014.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br />Over all I'd say it was a grand night.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVK-jyqHODc/TrSwE6PbpsI/AAAAAAAAAMg/0jKhHJ2S9cM/s1600/DSC_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZVK-jyqHODc/TrSwE6PbpsI/AAAAAAAAAMg/0jKhHJ2S9cM/s320/DSC_0045.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-8340563586704650722011-08-23T14:30:00.000-05:002011-08-23T14:30:13.122-05:00Happy Family Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxkK-IwQN7GxnB0wmn8js96fE_FODwh-54MwrufWw0nsvVmxTRvss24wCkVjvH4f1fWFl0YDgZ6HhiLRKMQXw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-53518136484650630742011-08-18T08:00:00.002-05:002011-08-18T21:38:26.230-05:00And we're off ... August 18, 2010A year ago today, Miss Faye was coming to pick up my mom and Steve (my stepfather) to take us to the airport on a journey that would forever change my life.&nbsp; I had been planning for this for a little over 9 months.&nbsp; 9 months.&nbsp; I know, its not lost on me.&nbsp; We got to the airport with plenty of time to spare.&nbsp; We checked in, handed over our 6 pieces of luggage, 2 of which were full of shoes for my friend Emily.&nbsp; Packing the night before was not fun.&nbsp; Trying to fit shoes and socks in that those suitcases were hard.&nbsp; But thanks to mom and Steve.&nbsp; I feel like waiting for the flight was not so bad to head out of Birmingham.&nbsp; We flew from Birmingham to Atlanta to Dulles.&nbsp; In Dulles we met two of the families that would become like family that week, <a href="http://bromosaic.blogspot.com/">Bethany and Issac</a> and <a href="http://freudenthaladoption.blogspot.com/">Ali and Joe</a>.&nbsp; We got to speak with each other.&nbsp; I remember Ali being so excited and full of life.&nbsp; And that pretty much fits her to a tee.&nbsp; Then from Dulles to Rome (for a 45 minute fueling of the plane) to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.&nbsp; That was an incredibly long flight.<br />We landed in Addis, got our visas and head to get our luggage.&nbsp; One suitcase, 2 suitcases, 3 suitcases, 4 suitcases....and that was all.&nbsp; Where were the other 2?&nbsp; One was somewhere in the world where suitcases go when they are lost, the other was taken into custody, both were the suitcases with the shoes.&nbsp; Which I was so thankful for, but it was a long hassle to figure out what to do. Thankfully Emily (who we were bringing the shoes for) had told me about the customs possibility and had told me to tell them to keep the shoes and someone from her organization would come get them.&nbsp; So about 2 hours later while the other 2 families waited for us, we finally were able to leave the airport.<br />Holt took great care of us.&nbsp; They had drivers waiting for us.&nbsp; They took care of our luggage and got us safely to the hotel.&nbsp; I was exhausted and freaking out.&nbsp; What am I about to do to my life?&nbsp; I lost it.&nbsp; Tears, ugly cry.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eV8LLF-HptY/TkbDccmW33I/AAAAAAAAALw/RHCCnf0KgiA/s1600/DSC00172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eV8LLF-HptY/TkbDccmW33I/AAAAAAAAALw/RHCCnf0KgiA/s320/DSC00172.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our back bedroom.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2d5aU21pK0/TkbDkq8LEsI/AAAAAAAAAL0/XTHo-8xexAk/s1600/DSC00174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G2d5aU21pK0/TkbDkq8LEsI/AAAAAAAAAL0/XTHo-8xexAk/s320/DSC00174.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the front balcony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLIXBKmPmHY/TkbDpw-M6xI/AAAAAAAAAL4/OIX-BdWOPHk/s1600/DSC00175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="87" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qLIXBKmPmHY/TkbDpw-M6xI/AAAAAAAAAL4/OIX-BdWOPHk/s400/DSC00175.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br /><br />The hotel's kitchen stayed open til midnight so we were able to get something to drink and then it was time to go to sleep.&nbsp; Thankfully, I had some sleep meds with me and take them I did.&nbsp; Because tomorrow was the big day... finally meeting my heart.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-9794107364181674642011-07-08T20:47:00.000-05:002011-07-08T20:47:12.822-05:00A Day of Heaviness.Its been a day of heaviness, at least for me.&nbsp; A day of questions about birth parents.&nbsp; I think it started when G asked about his foot, where his heel came from.&nbsp; And I answered it you were born with it when you were a baby.&nbsp; Talking to him about when he was a baby most always brings questions of his first mom and first dad.&nbsp; We have a picture of her and myself both in my bedroom and his.&nbsp; Today we did a lot of trying to explain who she was and who I am.&nbsp; Explaining to a 3 year old that one mommy carried him in her belly and held him when he was a baby, while I carried him in my heart.&nbsp; And that I now carry him in my arms while she carries him in her heart is a hard concept.&nbsp; I don't think it hurts him or upsets him, honestly I think he is just curious.&nbsp; So I try to answer his questions as best I can.&nbsp; And its easier for me to answer the mom questions than the dad ones.&nbsp;<br /><br />If you've read my blog for any length of time then you know I am a single mom to this amazing little boy.&nbsp; That he is the joy of my life and I can't imagine life without him.&nbsp; But the one thing that we seem to always return to is the daddy.&nbsp; He is very aware of the fact that he doesn't have a daddy who lives with him.&nbsp; When we first came home and he learned how to communicate it seemed to be a constant discussion.&nbsp; Where's my daddy, Why don't I have a daddy, I want a daddy.&nbsp; As the days have progressed and I have answered these questions (although most of the times I feel like I stumble along in the answers), he seems to have accepted the fact that he does not have a daddy.&nbsp; He loves his uncle and peepaw and takes great joy and pleasure in them.&nbsp; But it comes back up and usually in the car.&nbsp; Yesterday leaving school we were talking about one of his best friends in his class and that maybe his daddy was picking him up from school.&nbsp; Which lead to asking if mommy was going to marry.&nbsp; (We've seemed to learn that being married means having a daddy, at least that is why we don't have a daddy is because mommy isn't married).&nbsp; I asked him why he wanted me to marry.&nbsp; He says, I want a daddy.&nbsp; Honestly it breaks my heart a little. It does help that we have a group of single mommas that hang out so he sees other children who only have mommas.&nbsp; And we talk about that fact.&nbsp; I always tell him about his Ethiopia daddy when we have these discussions.&nbsp; I want him to know he does have a daddy, just that he's not here with us now. <br /><br />So today I think it finally sunk in that he had a another daddy.&nbsp; He wanted to know his name.&nbsp; I of course had not put that to memory (which now that I know it makes me go really Melissa, you should have known this, because a child is given their father's first name as their last name, and I had definitely seen and read G's birth last name often enough).&nbsp; So I searched the papers for it, found it and told him, and that is all he needed.&nbsp;<br /><br />He seems to be good and I know these questions will continue on the rest of our lives.&nbsp; And I don't regret them or want them to stop.&nbsp; I'm glad he's comfortable asking them and I want to talk with him about them, but they just drain me honestly.&nbsp;<br /><br />I love this boy so much, and just want him to be happy. &nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_1XlbA9KmU/ThexpKvNs2I/AAAAAAAAALg/urQB8DRCc7Y/s1600/100_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_1XlbA9KmU/ThexpKvNs2I/AAAAAAAAALg/urQB8DRCc7Y/s320/100_2785.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdzs3JsvPBo/Thex1X2SYVI/AAAAAAAAALk/oNDeISI2-Qk/s1600/100_2794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wdzs3JsvPBo/Thex1X2SYVI/AAAAAAAAALk/oNDeISI2-Qk/s320/100_2794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o_1XlbA9KmU/ThexpKvNs2I/AAAAAAAAALg/urQB8DRCc7Y/s1600/100_2785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-88225013081224649902011-06-12T22:31:00.000-05:002011-06-12T22:31:28.309-05:00A Evening with the Symphony!Tonight one of our friends organized a night out with the symphony.&nbsp; Okay so the symphony was already playing at a local park, but she told us all about it and about 9 families came out to play.&nbsp; The park was full of families and kids.&nbsp; It was a&nbsp; good time.&nbsp; They played Sound Of M@sic, Pir@tes of the C@ribean, and H@rry Potter.&nbsp; They were beautiful.&nbsp; The kids had a blast just running around.&nbsp; They also had a time of arts and crafts prior to the concert. This is Gizatu giving the "what are you taking a picture of me for" look.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzu6UNdQRkk/TfWC_JHMDpI/AAAAAAAAALM/PpP-8gAyPGU/s1600/IMG_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xzu6UNdQRkk/TfWC_JHMDpI/AAAAAAAAALM/PpP-8gAyPGU/s320/IMG_0038.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He made a fan, which was really nice for mommy because it was hot outside.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arYyZkZcc6U/TfWDZV32eyI/AAAAAAAAALQ/fyaCay7pL4o/s1600/IMG_0040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-arYyZkZcc6U/TfWDZV32eyI/AAAAAAAAALQ/fyaCay7pL4o/s320/IMG_0040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I have no idea what we were talking about... but it looks like why do I have to put my shoes back on, when in reality he continued running around minus the shoes for the rest of the night. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6YW6g0K1nU/TfWD5sn0jSI/AAAAAAAAALU/MO2UT-93GSo/s1600/IMG_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g6YW6g0K1nU/TfWD5sn0jSI/AAAAAAAAALU/MO2UT-93GSo/s320/IMG_0058.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsDH38PpomU/TfWEPmteLQI/AAAAAAAAALY/cD2CKq9ZcFo/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RsDH38PpomU/TfWEPmteLQI/AAAAAAAAALY/cD2CKq9ZcFo/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />And we ended the night on the playground, well the men ended their night on the playground, I was still listening to the symphony play beautiful music.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55VNeVjDi3U/TfWEgfDEDSI/AAAAAAAAALc/Ky0gU-EIKGc/s1600/IMG_0148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-55VNeVjDi3U/TfWEgfDEDSI/AAAAAAAAALc/Ky0gU-EIKGc/s320/IMG_0148.JPG" width="213" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-79550951609899544322011-05-08T22:21:00.000-05:002011-05-08T22:21:03.141-05:00A first for me!Today is my first mother's day!&nbsp; It has been a lovely day.&nbsp; Yesterday, Gizatu gave me a card he made for me at school as well as a beautiful butterfly.&nbsp; Today, started with a wake-up call from my sweet boy.&nbsp; My sister called and wished me a happy mother's day, and so did my brother.&nbsp; My brother said let me talk to Gizatu.&nbsp; So he and Gizatu talked for a few minutes and then I hear "Happy birthday, mommy".&nbsp; Close enough for me.&nbsp; We then headed for church.&nbsp; Multiple happy mother's days later I decided to surprise my mother and headed to her house for mother's day.&nbsp; She lives about an hour and half from us.&nbsp; So we hopped in the car and headed on.<br /><br />We surprised her and had lunch with my mom, dad, sister, aunt and uncle, aunt, cousin and his wife, and my grandmother.&nbsp; Then we spent a few more hours hanging out.&nbsp; We headed home after that.&nbsp; After a full day, my sweet boy zonked out.&nbsp; He barely woke up for a minute while I was laying him in his bed.&nbsp; But then he was out.<br /><br />I can't believe what an amazing experience it is to be a mother, to be this sweet boy's mom.&nbsp; He's brought an unbelievable light to my life.&nbsp; He makes me laugh, and sometimes I cry tears because his first momma doesn't get to experience all of this.&nbsp; Her loss made me a mother.&nbsp; She is my hero.&nbsp; I hope she knows that he is safe and loved.&nbsp; I know he was loved when he lived with her and I hope she knows that he is loved now that he lives with me.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS5lxwxVaUs/TcddN-eA4yI/AAAAAAAAALI/FepGaT9VABI/s1600/IMG_4054b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MS5lxwxVaUs/TcddN-eA4yI/AAAAAAAAALI/FepGaT9VABI/s400/IMG_4054b.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-26969644952612331792011-04-23T22:23:00.000-05:002011-04-23T22:23:03.120-05:00Easter Egg Hunt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today Gizatu experienced a first.&nbsp; Easter Egg hunt.&nbsp; He decided he wanted to wear his hat and didn't take it off for most of the morning.&nbsp; Thus most of the pictures I got of him today you can't see his face.&nbsp; His hat is way too big for him, because it was my sisters.&nbsp; </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZha1RhQ39g/TbM2P5yQ_ZI/AAAAAAAAAKo/WT5AUrIQDfw/s1600/100_2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iZha1RhQ39g/TbM2P5yQ_ZI/AAAAAAAAAKo/WT5AUrIQDfw/s320/100_2736.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iMXsnm8F18o/TbM2VsfcBxI/AAAAAAAAAKs/rCVmIGmdzKQ/s1600/100_2738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iMXsnm8F18o/TbM2VsfcBxI/AAAAAAAAAKs/rCVmIGmdzKQ/s320/100_2738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvNYociss_4/TbM265KmXLI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3yq45r3nmRE/s1600/100_2748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AvNYociss_4/TbM265KmXLI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3yq45r3nmRE/s320/100_2748.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />I wanted to try and get some pictures of the two of us together, but he was way too interested in finding more eggs, so here was the attempt.&nbsp; I still think he's cute though. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL3ePvj9VAA/TbM2-lW4sMI/AAAAAAAAAK0/L_G6K3w6Oys/s1600/100_2757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DL3ePvj9VAA/TbM2-lW4sMI/AAAAAAAAAK0/L_G6K3w6Oys/s320/100_2757.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y26c0tdGV6U/TbM6-HajRYI/AAAAAAAAALE/dyXdNijtGdc/s1600/100_2758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y26c0tdGV6U/TbM6-HajRYI/AAAAAAAAALE/dyXdNijtGdc/s320/100_2758.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5CsjaLO20E/TbM67M72GxI/AAAAAAAAALA/l_1Xl84-TyI/s1600/100_2759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_5CsjaLO20E/TbM67M72GxI/AAAAAAAAALA/l_1Xl84-TyI/s320/100_2759.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CRdcaJEJpY/TbM63hJU2dI/AAAAAAAAAK8/KRoYt4d3RE8/s1600/100_2756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5CRdcaJEJpY/TbM63hJU2dI/AAAAAAAAAK8/KRoYt4d3RE8/s320/100_2756.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUN1h1i7nok/TbM3CzoqGjI/AAAAAAAAAK4/hFACnNUaL94/s1600/100_2760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUN1h1i7nok/TbM3CzoqGjI/AAAAAAAAAK4/hFACnNUaL94/s320/100_2760.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;A final run down the side of the hill, minus the hat.&nbsp; He was dirty and sandy and all around happy.&nbsp; It was a great day!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-47828515630524048612011-04-18T21:18:00.000-05:002011-04-18T21:18:59.349-05:00I'm a cry baby.So I just watched the Blind Sid@ for the millionth time and always it makes me cry.&nbsp; It touches me in so many ways.&nbsp; For those of you who don't know, I'm a social worker.&nbsp; I work with foster families and also adoptions.&nbsp; This movie hit me the first time I saw it because of the way the system can fail its children.&nbsp; The ones that they are supposed to protect and how sometimes it doesn't work that way.&nbsp; But it also hits me with my son.&nbsp; While I realize that Gizatu's story is so different than Michael's, there is that part of me that relates.&nbsp; Will I be ready to take someone down in the middle of a football game for any disparaging remarks made about my son?&nbsp; When he's in his first car accident and I race to him, will they question the fact that he is my son?&nbsp; As I watch his momma leave him for college, I'm gonna be a basket case.&nbsp; I know I'm getting way ahead of myself, he's not even close to beginning kindergarten, but these are all thoughts that run through my head.&nbsp;<br /><br />Everytime I see a young black man, I wonder who he's going to grow up to be.&nbsp; Will he be tall, or average?&nbsp; Will he want dread locks or braids?&nbsp; When is the time that he is going to wish I understood all that it means to be a black man in this world?&nbsp; Because as much as I wish to protect him from the prejudices and stereotypes that this world has, I won't be able to.&nbsp; So I will, instead, prepare him for them to the best of my ability.&nbsp; Make sure there are men and women in his life who do fully understand it and get it, because they live it everyday. <br /><br />Okay so that was a much deeper post than originally planned.&nbsp; To end on a happier note here are some pictures from our first Thom@s the Train event with our Ethiopian buddy.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdvmLjzDz5Y/TazvGnwOkHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/5fxfXHOo6rI/s1600/DSC_0038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdvmLjzDz5Y/TazvGnwOkHI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/5fxfXHOo6rI/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZFaO6Xk3DI/TazvTwz--1I/AAAAAAAAAKU/AFS7km2XxgU/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lZFaO6Xk3DI/TazvTwz--1I/AAAAAAAAAKU/AFS7km2XxgU/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing to the music.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IZKUegVE5sM/Tazv6awoXNI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cb-G0uueWvg/s1600/DSC_0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IZKUegVE5sM/Tazv6awoXNI/AAAAAAAAAKY/cb-G0uueWvg/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ne-z1LakFRk/Tazv9fi4y4I/AAAAAAAAAKc/-0Wo0s0MAbI/s1600/DSC_0015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ne-z1LakFRk/Tazv9fi4y4I/AAAAAAAAAKc/-0Wo0s0MAbI/s320/DSC_0015.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His first tat!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCM2n6aKFp0/TazwAQJredI/AAAAAAAAAKg/BTvB6y4DmKY/s1600/DSC_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KCM2n6aKFp0/TazwAQJredI/AAAAAAAAAKg/BTvB6y4DmKY/s320/DSC_0031.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>Love these boys!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-44483937579372060112011-04-02T17:32:00.000-05:002011-04-02T17:32:47.172-05:00The first time I saw your face.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w-K8hfSu_9E/TYpcQLauNFI/AAAAAAAAAKA/gAWJpQIup8k/s1600/Gizatu+Zewude1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w-K8hfSu_9E/TYpcQLauNFI/AAAAAAAAAKA/gAWJpQIup8k/s1600/Gizatu+Zewude1.jpg" /></a></div>One year ago today was the first time I saw his face.&nbsp; This boy who has so changed my life.&nbsp; Its amazing to think about how it all came about.&nbsp; This is the first picture I saw of him.&nbsp; It was so small and hard to see.&nbsp; Of course the tears in my eyes didn't help any either.&nbsp; You can read all about that day <a href="http://wheremyheartis-melissa.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-found-my-heart.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I then received this picture about 3 weeks later...<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku_NWwt7RVg/TZeg8XC-K2I/AAAAAAAAAKI/8yUvvg8elKo/s1600/Gizatu++Zewdie60-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ku_NWwt7RVg/TZeg8XC-K2I/AAAAAAAAAKI/8yUvvg8elKo/s320/Gizatu++Zewdie60-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(I can't figure out how to get the picture to flip on blogger.)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td></tr></tbody></table><br />I was so excited to get this picture.&nbsp; I could actually make out his face and his features.&nbsp;<br /><br />He's an amazing little boy.&nbsp; He's brought so much to my life.&nbsp; Its changed in ways I could never imagined.&nbsp; Love you little man.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjA5cTar12w/TZejsHPSGsI/AAAAAAAAAKM/Xr9ujl8IKc0/s1600/100_2655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DjA5cTar12w/TZejsHPSGsI/AAAAAAAAAKM/Xr9ujl8IKc0/s320/100_2655.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-6342977209678561522011-03-16T10:26:00.000-05:002011-03-16T10:26:20.999-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OS3i6VNIP4Y/TYDUnGmis3I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Mmi15I4y0b4/s1600/100_2627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OS3i6VNIP4Y/TYDUnGmis3I/AAAAAAAAAJ0/Mmi15I4y0b4/s400/100_2627.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-St4EsGAKmco/TYDU34VCxHI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/jLEpdcUI53c/s1600/100_2631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-St4EsGAKmco/TYDU34VCxHI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/jLEpdcUI53c/s400/100_2631.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IWfTDixyscM/TYDVCgwiwcI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/D8p8sT_24WU/s1600/100_2630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-IWfTDixyscM/TYDVCgwiwcI/AAAAAAAAAJ8/D8p8sT_24WU/s400/100_2630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-46257262096106681142011-03-08T21:49:00.000-06:002011-03-08T21:49:21.416-06:00I need your help choosing...So in December, my friend Daphne who adopted Ben told me that her BFF wanted to take pictures of G and myself.&nbsp; Of course the Thursday prior to the photo shoot I fell and busted my face all up, so it became a photo shoot of G with a little bit of Ben thrown in for good measure.&nbsp; He did so good and with Daphne's help the following smiles were captured. There were about 30 pictures.&nbsp;&nbsp; So now I want to get one of these pictures blown up and put on canvas.&nbsp; I've narrowed it down to 8 photos. Of course I can't choose so I want your help.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IHKQcY9KZLg/TXb3hBSj9vI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Vq-epkGVP5U/s1600/DSC_0914fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-IHKQcY9KZLg/TXb3hBSj9vI/AAAAAAAAAJg/Vq-epkGVP5U/s320/DSC_0914fix.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BbX-ZYiMP58/TXb3KZDdfDI/AAAAAAAAAJU/d9U_Dow4CNM/s1600/DSC_1033fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-BbX-ZYiMP58/TXb3KZDdfDI/AAAAAAAAAJU/d9U_Dow4CNM/s320/DSC_1033fix.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FFZnxmYglS8/TXb3SfPInGI/AAAAAAAAAJY/-BS82u7DDBM/s1600/DSC_0968fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FFZnxmYglS8/TXb3SfPInGI/AAAAAAAAAJY/-BS82u7DDBM/s320/DSC_0968fix.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NyM6Gwk-KQw/TXb3b3fwubI/AAAAAAAAAJc/gIoABWs0W_U/s1600/DSC_0939fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-NyM6Gwk-KQw/TXb3b3fwubI/AAAAAAAAAJc/gIoABWs0W_U/s320/DSC_0939fix.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eQuQWoc8evM/TXb3kcCF0wI/AAAAAAAAAJk/OAs0EOw7JpY/s1600/DSC_0837fixcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eQuQWoc8evM/TXb3kcCF0wI/AAAAAAAAAJk/OAs0EOw7JpY/s320/DSC_0837fixcrop.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0J3kfo7ulAQ/TXb3n93RBII/AAAAAAAAAJo/D2YBD4bU8tY/s1600/DSC_0829fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0J3kfo7ulAQ/TXb3n93RBII/AAAAAAAAAJo/D2YBD4bU8tY/s320/DSC_0829fix.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eVtjYSxo0_Q/TXb3q4fH73I/AAAAAAAAAJs/lDLEoMxAhEQ/s1600/DSC_0773fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-eVtjYSxo0_Q/TXb3q4fH73I/AAAAAAAAAJs/lDLEoMxAhEQ/s320/DSC_0773fix.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-57yR8oKmTvc/TXb3y3O3jnI/AAAAAAAAAJw/uavl139Cy98/s1600/DSC_1182fix.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-57yR8oKmTvc/TXb3y3O3jnI/AAAAAAAAAJw/uavl139Cy98/s320/DSC_1182fix.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-71270589193459446092011-02-27T20:28:00.000-06:002011-02-27T20:28:11.008-06:006 months home!Its so hard to believe that it has been six months home.&nbsp; I'm more thankful than I can express that this precious boy is my son.&nbsp; I was thinking the other day what life would be like without him.&nbsp; At first I thought I can't even imagine, but honestly I can...<br /><br />Sleeping late...oh how I miss you.<br />No toys on the floor...my feet would be happy.<br />No timeouts, no pouting, no tears...silence is golden.<br /><br />But what I would be missing...<br />Mommy wake up, its time to wake up and kisses lots and lots of kisses first thing in the morning.<br />Mecinas (cars) everywhere and the joy in his face when he's playing.<br />The happiness that he brings.<br />I can imagine my life without him but I don't want to ever have to live it without him again.<br /><br />On to the facts...<br />We still use some Amharic words...<br />Mecina...Cars<br />Shintet...Potty<br />Kaka...Poop<br />Behuala...Later<br />Nege...Tomorrow<br />Na...Come<br /><br />I hope that we will continue to use these words the rest of our days...and I figure that means I need to continue to use them in our home.<br /><br />6 months ago I couldn't imagine how much better things would be.&nbsp; Those first weeks I cried every day.&nbsp; It was just hard, to go from being this single lady with 2 cats and a dog, being my only responsiblity to having the little boy who was totally dependent on me.&nbsp; This boy who we couldn't communicate through words, this boy whose life had been flip turned upside down.<br /><br />He learned to show me what he needed, he'd grab your hand and guide you to what he wanted.&nbsp; Now when I ask him what he wants, he says" I show you."<br /><br />When we first came home I would ask him if he needed to shintet and then would help him go, now he heads for the potty all on his own.&nbsp; Doesn't need me at all.&nbsp; He has also started brushing his teeth "by himself".&nbsp; (I do a little follow up on this).<br /><br />We co-slept for the first 5 months of him being home, we started the transition into him sleeping by himself in early February and hopefully I'll be in my own bed by the end of March.&nbsp; He's doing great.&nbsp; Sleeps the entire night now without waking up.&nbsp; The first week or so he would wake up, and I would get off the twin mattress on the floor next to his bed and comfort him and he'd go back to sleep, but that only lasted about a week before he was able to self-comfort and fall asleep on his own.<br /><br />This past Friday night was the first time I let someone else put him to bed.&nbsp; My mom and dad had the honor and he did great.&nbsp; He slept the entire night, woke up about 5:45am (which is way earlier than he usually does), and looked out the window to make sure my car was in the driveway.&nbsp; It was so sweet.&nbsp; He then crawled into bed and went back to sleep for another hour or so.&nbsp; I'm so glad that he's in my life.&nbsp; <br /><br />We've had some great times over these last 6 months...<br />visited the zoo with different friends.<br />played at the McW@ne Center.<br />been to 5 birthday partys.<br />flew on an airplane to visit a family we traveled to Ethiopia with to each bring home our sons.<br />played at the park, he loves the slide. <br /><br />So that's the last 6 months in a nutshell.<br /><br />These are pictures from our labor day weekend, our second weekend home.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FhGu6qG0HRc/TWsGnTnAgNI/AAAAAAAAAI0/mG4g9AdxiCY/s1600/DSC00698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FhGu6qG0HRc/TWsGnTnAgNI/AAAAAAAAAI0/mG4g9AdxiCY/s320/DSC00698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pOePgIcIXRY/TWsGwNmF_GI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Cspf9JQ6i14/s1600/DSC00699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-pOePgIcIXRY/TWsGwNmF_GI/AAAAAAAAAI4/Cspf9JQ6i14/s320/DSC00699.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qgpnqC8hHTs/TWsG3wUTZII/AAAAAAAAAI8/IhotelLmaL8/s1600/DSC00709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qgpnqC8hHTs/TWsG3wUTZII/AAAAAAAAAI8/IhotelLmaL8/s320/DSC00709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-owrC2TkaGT0/TWsHBmkZo3I/AAAAAAAAAJA/LbTQ2peb8lg/s1600/DSC00743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-owrC2TkaGT0/TWsHBmkZo3I/AAAAAAAAAJA/LbTQ2peb8lg/s320/DSC00743.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />And these are from this past weekend. He's gotten so big.&nbsp; But he's wearing the same wolfpack shirt in the pictures that he was wearing in the last picture. &nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1gEll0rtEgU/TWsHRXv6awI/AAAAAAAAAJE/f8i6tJS3uaM/s1600/100_2596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1gEll0rtEgU/TWsHRXv6awI/AAAAAAAAAJE/f8i6tJS3uaM/s320/100_2596.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZj_KAtID_k/TWsHUwjooBI/AAAAAAAAAJI/h7laSVV_yL4/s1600/100_2600.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RZj_KAtID_k/TWsHUwjooBI/AAAAAAAAAJI/h7laSVV_yL4/s320/100_2600.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FOz6GPzuADw/TWsHZSqkeYI/AAAAAAAAAJM/snAyaP35MkU/s1600/100_2604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-FOz6GPzuADw/TWsHZSqkeYI/AAAAAAAAAJM/snAyaP35MkU/s320/100_2604.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dtsMoKTBg6k/TWsHfbuOQLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/33f79xDQNPE/s1600/100_2612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dtsMoKTBg6k/TWsHfbuOQLI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/33f79xDQNPE/s320/100_2612.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-53162880702387914972011-01-29T21:44:00.000-06:002011-01-29T21:44:21.929-06:00Swimming and a little song.Last Sunday, our children's ministry from church hosted a warm up swim party at the local universities' in door pool.&nbsp; This was Gizatu's first time in a pool.&nbsp; He had a blast.&nbsp; Of course he preferred his uncle Daniel, and at first I was like really, you want your uncle Daniel not your mother.&nbsp; But then as pictures were being taken I decided that not being in them in my bathing suit was not such a bad thing.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcr3wEwQI/AAAAAAAAAIU/kX-CQgGP-vM/s1600/01232011063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcr3wEwQI/AAAAAAAAAIU/kX-CQgGP-vM/s320/01232011063.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTczhn-V6I/AAAAAAAAAIs/GuqL0YjpWmU/s1600/01232011070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTczhn-V6I/AAAAAAAAAIs/GuqL0YjpWmU/s320/01232011070.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcx4zUE7I/AAAAAAAAAIo/5tMPHYNHEBI/s1600/01232011069-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcx4zUE7I/AAAAAAAAAIo/5tMPHYNHEBI/s320/01232011069-001.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcwwi-_QI/AAAAAAAAAIk/S10yY2G7Rqs/s1600/01232011068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcwwi-_QI/AAAAAAAAAIk/S10yY2G7Rqs/s320/01232011068.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTctZSXa2I/AAAAAAAAAIY/vfJjEpCdRc0/s1600/01232011064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTctZSXa2I/AAAAAAAAAIY/vfJjEpCdRc0/s320/01232011064.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcuXbHwVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/G8NE27JFH5M/s1600/01232011065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcuXbHwVI/AAAAAAAAAIc/G8NE27JFH5M/s320/01232011065.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcvrldz2I/AAAAAAAAAIg/-C5uV2sjy8U/s1600/01232011066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TUTcvrldz2I/AAAAAAAAAIg/-C5uV2sjy8U/s320/01232011066.jpg" width="320" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did get to swim in the water with him now and then, and my nephew was also there who I swam with.&nbsp; Although I will give you one tip...don't, do not, don't even think about going into the hot tub before going into the not so hot pool.&nbsp; Its cold and not fun.&nbsp; And then don't go back into the hot tub for 2 minutes to be dragged back into the not so hot pool for 2 minutes, to be dragged back into the hot tub to be dragged back into the not so hot pool.&nbsp; Just not fun.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But to end on a fun note how about a little song.&nbsp; Can you guess what it is?<br /><iframe allowFullScreen='true' webkitallowfullscreen='true' mozallowfullscreen='true' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwuw6ztbWKDtgnu9_l7sKbTjCdWt2obOULmm6JchE4fkCFQZ-87F82hS56ytWA0nEx_2uN9Zfr7zKzkpyCEwg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' FRAMEBORDER='0' /></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-79611007037109959602011-01-12T22:45:00.001-06:002011-01-12T22:46:10.088-06:002010 in a nutshellI know I'm way late, its already almost halfway through January and I'm just now writing a post.&nbsp; I'll be honest by the time I get done with the day and G's in bed, I sit down to blog and end up reading everybody else's.&nbsp; Which I love, the ones that make me laugh could possibly be my favorites, but I also like the ones that make me tear up.<br /><br />But I know that at least a few of you guys like an update on G's and my life together, so here it goes.<br /><br />2010 in a nutshell...<br />It was an amazing year.&nbsp; I honestly thought that I would just now be returning home with Gizatu (of course I had no idea who he would be) when I started the process of adopting, and now we've been home for 4.5 months, almost 5.&nbsp; It is crazy.<br /><br />When I started the adoption journey I thought I would be bringing home a child between the age of 6 months and 12 months.&nbsp; Then things changed and I opened up to an "older" child (children older than 2 in the adoption world are considered older) and received a referral for a 3.5 year old boy who was tiny on Good Friday.&nbsp; And it was a good Friday.<br />Then came court in Ethiopia and we passed on the first try and in those court days before you had to travel that was highly unlikely.<br />Then the embassy delay, which in the end only cost us about 2 weeks I believe.<br />Then on August 19, I meet G for the first time.&nbsp; And it was amazing...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS5-OY591GI/AAAAAAAAAIE/GcJ2_JXyXMc/s1600/Picture+2036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS5-OY591GI/AAAAAAAAAIE/GcJ2_JXyXMc/s320/Picture+2036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>And I also realized that my son was more like 2.5, not 3.5 almost 4. So more changes in my world.<br /><br />I took custody of him on August 23.&nbsp; Our family day.&nbsp; I have really mixed feelings about family day.&nbsp; Some of you may agree, some of you may not.&nbsp; And that is fine.&nbsp; That was the day that I became his and he became mine, but it was also the day that he truly lost his birth family.&nbsp; Adoption is hard and it is full of loss, it is also full of hope and love and joy, but at the root of adoption is loss.&nbsp; And it is sad.&nbsp; (okay sorry for that small tangent... i will move on. )<br /><br />We spent the next 3 days either in the hotel, at the embassy in Addis, or on an airplane.&nbsp; They were rough days for me.&nbsp; He did great.&nbsp; I was a basket case.<br /><br />We left Addis at 10pm on Thursday, August 26th and arrived home on Friday, August 27th to a crowd of lovely people at the airport.&nbsp; It was an exhausting flight and I walked the plane more times than I can count, but I was sooooo glad to be home.&nbsp; You will see the exhaustion in the following picture (normally I would never post a picture of me after only have about 5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours but here's the real me... :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6AgYlBOoI/AAAAAAAAAII/A5cnZHG7NQE/s1600/DSC_3034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6AgYlBOoI/AAAAAAAAAII/A5cnZHG7NQE/s320/DSC_3034.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Those first weeks home were hard.&nbsp; Harder than anything I've ever done in my life.&nbsp; But slowly life with G became my normal and now I have a hard time remembering life before him (although I do miss my sleep, of course I could be in bed right now, but no its quiet and the TV is off and no one is climbing on top of me...ahhhhh)<br /><br />I took two months off of work which was amazing.&nbsp; I'm so thankful for the time we had together. He started daycare in November.&nbsp; We transitioned the week before he started by just spending time at the daycare, getting to know his teachers and classmates.&nbsp; It helped that his cousin also attends the same daycare.&nbsp; He enjoys it there, and that helps put my heart at ease.<br /><br />In November, my church family and biological family dedicated ourselves to G.&nbsp; It was the sweetest thing ever (Anne I still need those pictures :)!<br /><br />In December, he became officially mine again.&nbsp; In order to apply for citizenship for G, I had to readopt him.&nbsp; So mom came down and we headed to court.&nbsp; 5 minutes and it was done. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6CDHJxAgI/AAAAAAAAAIM/DNCX9xsXmM8/s1600/100_2437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6CDHJxAgI/AAAAAAAAAIM/DNCX9xsXmM8/s320/100_2437.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Tried to hide my band aids from when my face meet the concrete.&nbsp; I did a pretty good job of it if I say so myself.<br /><br />G also was in his first Christmas program.&nbsp; Love my sheep!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6CdQt3HwI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/SOBszKi3aH8/s1600/100_2435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TS6CdQt3HwI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/SOBszKi3aH8/s320/100_2435.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So then Christmas, which I actually did a post about, so you can read that one if you want more Christmas fun.<br /><br />It's been a crazy wild year.&nbsp; But an absolutely amazing one.&nbsp; Looking forward to 2011.Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-84946539720329002192010-12-25T18:32:00.000-06:002010-12-25T18:32:24.820-06:00Christmas is here!Last night as I was laying with Gizatu for him to fall asleep he kept asking about Santa.&nbsp; Trying to explain to an almost three year old whose been home from Ethiopia for 4 months about Santa coming while he is sleeping is not the easiest thing.&nbsp; He doesn't get it.&nbsp; He still doesn't quite understand still.&nbsp; He woke up this morning at 7:00 am (that might be the last time til he's a teenager that he sleeps that late on Christmas day).&nbsp; We waited for Grammy and Peepaw to get dressed then headed downstairs to see what Santa brought!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaD2PAxRkI/AAAAAAAAAHs/F-4OdrX-VTI/s1600/christmas+124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaD2PAxRkI/AAAAAAAAAHs/F-4OdrX-VTI/s400/christmas+124.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>This is the Santa stash before Gizatu came down.&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaEShQ5lqI/AAAAAAAAAHw/eOKlNTZOIJM/s1600/christmas+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaEShQ5lqI/AAAAAAAAAHw/eOKlNTZOIJM/s320/christmas+125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Gizatu playing with his truck.&nbsp; The only thing he actually asked Santa for.&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaEk62ElTI/AAAAAAAAAH0/7W71X1_3MOo/s1600/christmas+131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaEk62ElTI/AAAAAAAAAH0/7W71X1_3MOo/s320/christmas+131.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Santa always leaves an apple and orange in stockings at our house.&nbsp; He loved the orange.&nbsp; Guess I'll be buying more of those in the future.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaFLPFyPEI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ooac5QgxUC4/s1600/christmas+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaFLPFyPEI/AAAAAAAAAH4/ooac5QgxUC4/s320/christmas+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We actually woke up to a white Christmas.&nbsp; First Christmas in Alabama and it snows.&nbsp; Who would have thought it, but it was wonderful.&nbsp;<br /><br />It has been an amazing Christmas this year.&nbsp; Having a son has changed everything!&nbsp; He's the best present ever.&nbsp; Being a mommy has blessed my life like nothing else and showed me love like nothing else.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaFso3ThLI/AAAAAAAAAH8/K4858zd62uU/s1600/christmas+155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaFso3ThLI/AAAAAAAAAH8/K4858zd62uU/s320/christmas+155.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaMGCZ5GII/AAAAAAAAAIA/XOuGav45BKk/s1600/christmas+126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TRaMGCZ5GII/AAAAAAAAAIA/XOuGav45BKk/s320/christmas+126.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Love this little man!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-81827280301952727552010-12-18T22:23:00.001-06:002010-12-18T22:24:34.655-06:00Christmas, it's a coming!So Gizatu is currently sound asleep and I actually am still awake so I thought I'd bless you with a quick blog :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2G6-0JfoI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/o_F61IXEnyU/s1600/100_2353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2G6-0JfoI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/o_F61IXEnyU/s320/100_2353.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;The tree before all the branches were "fluffed".&nbsp; I originally was going to skip the tree this year, but got a really good deal on a prelit tree the friday after thanksgiving.&nbsp; I know how could I skip on a tree, well I wanted a real one, but I also didn't want to keep my cats from crawling up a real one.&nbsp; And being a parent is expensive.&nbsp; And it was one cost I just couldn't hack right now...but then this tree with lights already on it (not a fan of putting lights on a tree) was just too good of a deal.&nbsp; Gizatu wasn't too sure about this whole thing.&nbsp; But I did get him to put a new ornament on the tree.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HAZrhwfI/AAAAAAAAAHU/WaH4v69pc5o/s1600/100_2357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HAZrhwfI/AAAAAAAAAHU/WaH4v69pc5o/s320/100_2357.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HEwaRZFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/l6lbPPGAaTU/s1600/100_2359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HEwaRZFI/AAAAAAAAAHY/l6lbPPGAaTU/s320/100_2359.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />"We" then hung the lights on the holly tree out front. Okay I really hung them and then set up G to do a photo op.&nbsp; He looks so cute though!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HI7gIxpI/AAAAAAAAAHc/z2UYvB178hE/s1600/100_2375.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HI7gIxpI/AAAAAAAAAHc/z2UYvB178hE/s320/100_2375.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HMgmP8aI/AAAAAAAAAHg/rbFfQWegVfU/s1600/100_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HMgmP8aI/AAAAAAAAAHg/rbFfQWegVfU/s320/100_2376.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;So my grandmother asked me if it would be alright to get a African American Santa for Gizatu.&nbsp; I said rock on!&nbsp; Now he sits proudly atop our tree!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HUTid8hI/AAAAAAAAAHk/IYv2dRtsJZo/s1600/100_2388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TQ2HUTid8hI/AAAAAAAAAHk/IYv2dRtsJZo/s320/100_2388.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Love Christmas!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-40671320483807625352010-12-06T15:23:00.000-06:002010-12-06T15:23:28.105-06:00It's December!How is it possible that it is already December?&nbsp; It seems rather crazy to me.&nbsp; This December is so different than last.&nbsp; Last December I was <a href="http://wheremyheartis-melissa.blogspot.com/2009/12/waiting-with-anticipation.html">waiting in anticipation</a> for a son or daughter.&nbsp; For this little person who would so change my life and now, he's here.&nbsp; And he's amazing.&nbsp; I adore him.&nbsp; He makes me laugh everyday.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1MnU1OgXI/AAAAAAAAAGY/uL7S2VE_PLI/s1600/DSC00933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1MnU1OgXI/AAAAAAAAAGY/uL7S2VE_PLI/s320/DSC00933.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />We had our first Thanksgiving together.&nbsp; He played and played with my family.&nbsp; There were a total of 17 people in my parents house.&nbsp; It was wonderful.&nbsp; And he ate and ate.&nbsp; This boy loves turkey. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1M-uZEqBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GUQ85o1_8Kw/s1600/DSC01018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1M-uZEqBI/AAAAAAAAAGc/GUQ85o1_8Kw/s320/DSC01018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />He loves his cousin, Andrew.&nbsp; He would follow him everywhere. <br /><br />On Saturday, we went and visited his ET friends who live a little way away from my parents.&nbsp; He was so excited.&nbsp; He loves G and D.&nbsp; It did take them a little while to warm up to each other, but once they did there was no stopping them.&nbsp; They took a ride on the go cart.&nbsp; Even though he looks not exactly excited.&nbsp; He was PUMPED! He loves cars and anything that looks like one. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1NgFTpk-I/AAAAAAAAAGg/FydbMVjTj9Y/s1600/DSC01053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1NgFTpk-I/AAAAAAAAAGg/FydbMVjTj9Y/s320/DSC01053.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1NydNBYqI/AAAAAAAAAGo/QgQfcPyyDcM/s1600/DSC01055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1NydNBYqI/AAAAAAAAAGo/QgQfcPyyDcM/s320/DSC01055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1OC-nI8uI/AAAAAAAAAGs/hRhRRmZbh28/s1600/DSC01058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1OC-nI8uI/AAAAAAAAAGs/hRhRRmZbh28/s400/DSC01058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>&nbsp;D and G and Gizatu lived in the same village when they were in Ethiopia and their birth mothers knew each other so we (D &amp; G's parents, as well as me) think it is very important to keep them connected to each other. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1Osh1nELI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Z2iexP-z1uM/s1600/DSC01083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1Osh1nELI/AAAAAAAAAGw/Z2iexP-z1uM/s320/DSC01083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1O9HHXY8I/AAAAAAAAAG0/dA3IlH3Xops/s1600/DSC01085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1O9HHXY8I/AAAAAAAAAG0/dA3IlH3Xops/s320/DSC01085.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1PMnekYvI/AAAAAAAAAG4/ZI7o6SW9Awg/s1600/DSC01089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1PMnekYvI/AAAAAAAAAG4/ZI7o6SW9Awg/s400/DSC01089.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1PbMzxPMI/AAAAAAAAAG8/DiqksEh1-Io/s1600/DSC01096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1PbMzxPMI/AAAAAAAAAG8/DiqksEh1-Io/s320/DSC01096.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1QEF9QSgI/AAAAAAAAAHA/BRKCu_r5rFU/s1600/DSC01110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1QEF9QSgI/AAAAAAAAAHA/BRKCu_r5rFU/s320/DSC01110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;They had a blast.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1QrLHuz7I/AAAAAAAAAHE/VvFlJ4Vhi5E/s1600/DSC01134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1QrLHuz7I/AAAAAAAAAHE/VvFlJ4Vhi5E/s320/DSC01134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;They have this hill where they ride riding toys down.&nbsp; Gizatu wanted to do it so bad.&nbsp; Mom on the other hand was a little apprehensive.&nbsp; But he did and had a blast. Of course he ran into a rock and flipped but he was okay.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1Q38G_j1I/AAAAAAAAAHI/SoQcP_RCcTg/s1600/DSC01137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1Q38G_j1I/AAAAAAAAAHI/SoQcP_RCcTg/s320/DSC01137.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;On this past Thursday I took a little spill on the concrete outside Gizatu's daycare and ended up with multiple band-aids on my face.&nbsp; Gizatu wanted to show me some sympathy (actually he just loves to put band-aids on.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1RpW_AKTI/AAAAAAAAAHM/FuHLpd0OM-Y/s1600/DSC01170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TP1RpW_AKTI/AAAAAAAAAHM/FuHLpd0OM-Y/s320/DSC01170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>One final picture chilling on the floor watching his favorite, Mecinas (or C@rs).Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-38709450711771916482010-11-20T15:27:00.001-06:002010-11-29T21:35:02.784-06:00botanical gardens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am very lucky to have an <a href="http://mabbat.wordpress.com/">amazing friend in my life</a> who is also quite handy with a camera.&nbsp; We've known each since the 2nd grade.&nbsp; Went to middle school, high school and college together.&nbsp; She's one of those friends who you call when times are awful and who you call when times are amazing.&nbsp; So last Friday we headed to the Botanical Gardens and she took a few pictures.&nbsp; I personally think they are amazing!&nbsp; She is also an amazing poet, and writer.&nbsp; One of the most crafty people I know.&nbsp; She's been through some really hard times recently and yet she's still one of the strongest people I know (although she would probably deny that).&nbsp; Hope you all enjoy the pictures.&nbsp; I know I do!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">p.s. daphne all the photos are for you! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg647UcoAI/AAAAAAAAAFw/0eaT7NoIWFU/s1600/DSC_0650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg647UcoAI/AAAAAAAAAFw/0eaT7NoIWFU/s320/DSC_0650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg69R9nsLI/AAAAAAAAAF0/oGTlCIbcm0g/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg69R9nsLI/AAAAAAAAAF0/oGTlCIbcm0g/s640/DSC_0659.JPG" width="427" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7BSMPOqI/AAAAAAAAAF4/pLK-2a5j57o/s1600/DSC_0660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7BSMPOqI/AAAAAAAAAF4/pLK-2a5j57o/s320/DSC_0660.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7G83rHBI/AAAAAAAAAF8/MED5gLJPyCQ/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7G83rHBI/AAAAAAAAAF8/MED5gLJPyCQ/s320/DSC_0664.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7LySttSI/AAAAAAAAAGA/DKRtfEE3dy4/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7LySttSI/AAAAAAAAAGA/DKRtfEE3dy4/s320/DSC_0668.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7T4_BakI/AAAAAAAAAGE/w6s_-ymqLuo/s1600/DSC_0690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7T4_BakI/AAAAAAAAAGE/w6s_-ymqLuo/s320/DSC_0690.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7ekL9-DI/AAAAAAAAAGI/ql1VMSJKzxQ/s1600/DSC_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7ekL9-DI/AAAAAAAAAGI/ql1VMSJKzxQ/s320/DSC_0719.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7o1k-59I/AAAAAAAAAGM/X8sDvvNW9F4/s1600/DSC_0770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7o1k-59I/AAAAAAAAAGM/X8sDvvNW9F4/s400/DSC_0770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7yeDwrYI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/gmgsJIFVbIQ/s1600/DSC_0825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg7yeDwrYI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/gmgsJIFVbIQ/s320/DSC_0825.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg72ur9qVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xTnoGOBHDgI/s1600/DSC_0859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOg72ur9qVI/AAAAAAAAAGU/xTnoGOBHDgI/s400/DSC_0859.JPG" width="267" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-71426990041013852692010-11-17T14:15:00.001-06:002010-11-18T09:22:29.495-06:00Random thingsSo I decided I should do a post before its been a whole month since the last.&nbsp; This past month has been full of many new and different things.<br /><br />Gizatu got his first haircut since he's been home with me.&nbsp; He did great.&nbsp; Sat in my lap and let Ms. Kristi cut away.&nbsp; Mommy of course had hair everywhere.&nbsp; Here's some pictures to show how he did.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDTGyMjmI/AAAAAAAAAFU/aSbxBHus5DM/s1600/100_2332.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDTGyMjmI/AAAAAAAAAFU/aSbxBHus5DM/s320/100_2332.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDIhedKuI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/JJQK2-_I_Gk/s1600/100_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDIhedKuI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/JJQK2-_I_Gk/s320/100_2331.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDvatE23I/AAAAAAAAAFY/COIU09laIPA/s1600/100_2337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQDvatE23I/AAAAAAAAAFY/COIU09laIPA/s320/100_2337.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />I have also started back to work.&nbsp; Thankfully I am only working 3 days a week until the end of the year, so G is only in daycare those three days.&nbsp; The week before I went back to work, we went almost everyday to his daycare so that he could meet his teacher and get to know some of the kids.&nbsp; I left him for 3 hours one day.&nbsp; It was hard, I'll admit.&nbsp; I cried as I walked out the door.&nbsp; I didn't know that it would be that hard, but he did really well.&nbsp; Then the next day he spent 8 hours.&nbsp; He didn't want me to leave, but didn't throw a fit or anything.&nbsp; He was excited to see me when I picked him up.&nbsp; I missed him throughout the day, and thought of him often, but really didn't worry about him.&nbsp; My nephew goes to the same daycare so I knew there was someone there G knew well.<br /><br />I also had a birthday.&nbsp; My first birthday as a mother.&nbsp; My brother got a card for G to give me for my birthday.&nbsp; It was so sweet.&nbsp; It sang to me.&nbsp; Of course my brother says that when they were choosing a card the based it on the cry factor.&nbsp; This one made me tear up.&nbsp; Being a mom is the best thing ever, it is also the hardest thing ever.&nbsp; I adore him.<br /><br />So the following pictures are just silly.&nbsp; G had put stickers all over my face and then started making funny faces at the camera, so I though I'd share.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQD9bbMDHI/AAAAAAAAAFc/HjxRcbNBPTw/s1600/100_2340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQD9bbMDHI/AAAAAAAAAFc/HjxRcbNBPTw/s320/100_2340.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFMUk6TyI/AAAAAAAAAFg/Z0f7a98MwOA/s1600/100_2343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFMUk6TyI/AAAAAAAAAFg/Z0f7a98MwOA/s320/100_2343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFgw74Z1I/AAAAAAAAAFo/dCiTP5zVuHo/s1600/100_2346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFgw74Z1I/AAAAAAAAAFo/dCiTP5zVuHo/s320/100_2346.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />G and the animals are doing really well.&nbsp; This picture is the first time my cat, Tallie, has come within 10 feet of G though.&nbsp; He was so excited that she was laying on him.&nbsp; Then he sneezed and she jumped right off.&nbsp; He thought it was hilarious.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFySh9tnI/AAAAAAAAAFs/SJxSQnKzUzU/s1600/100_2351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TOQFySh9tnI/AAAAAAAAAFs/SJxSQnKzUzU/s320/100_2351.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-51538272578970431072010-10-22T22:11:00.000-05:002010-10-22T22:11:27.285-05:00McWane CenterToday we headed to the McWane center with our friends Emma, and Owen and their mother Kristen.&nbsp; We had a great time.&nbsp; He kept asking Emma? Emma?&nbsp; We got there a little early so we had to wait for Emma to get there. (I know early, how in the world did that happen?) This is our second time at the McWane Center.&nbsp; Both times we've been there have been multiple schools there on field trips. Seriously, is Thursday field trip day at the museum? There were big kids everywhere.&nbsp; So we headed to the kiddie zone and at first we were the only ones there.&nbsp; It is supposed to be for kindergartners and younger.&nbsp; A few kids tried to come in, but I told them they were too old.&nbsp; Mother bear here she comes.&nbsp; But then the big kids started to come in, seriously.&nbsp; I was not a happy camper.&nbsp; The thing that frustrated me the most was that they had their parents with them. REALLY.&nbsp; Can you guys not read the sign?<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPcZGNtRI/AAAAAAAAAEs/aHPtwFeUD0o/s1600/100_2265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPcZGNtRI/AAAAAAAAAEs/aHPtwFeUD0o/s320/100_2265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp;Riding the seat up and down with a pully system, of course mommy has to pull him up and he is sitting on the Harder pullies. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPkZoXmQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/6hsB6r_UWpg/s1600/100_2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPkZoXmQI/AAAAAAAAAEw/6hsB6r_UWpg/s320/100_2299.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPpNSulTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/zY9m0Vj08q8/s1600/100_2293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPpNSulTI/AAAAAAAAAE0/zY9m0Vj08q8/s320/100_2293.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Digging for dinosaurs!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJP1W8wSvI/AAAAAAAAAE8/y7QMXg4EjS4/s1600/100_2286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJP1W8wSvI/AAAAAAAAAE8/y7QMXg4EjS4/s320/100_2286.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Mommy and Gizatu made faces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQKz7H6hI/AAAAAAAAAFA/umJ40yonGAQ/s1600/100_2268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQKz7H6hI/AAAAAAAAAFA/umJ40yonGAQ/s320/100_2268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQSHVs4kI/AAAAAAAAAFE/1Ibgmsck4hA/s1600/100_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQSHVs4kI/AAAAAAAAAFE/1Ibgmsck4hA/s320/100_2271.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQVWTQZsI/AAAAAAAAAFI/27ouYtsKJl8/s1600/100_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQVWTQZsI/AAAAAAAAAFI/27ouYtsKJl8/s320/100_2275.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;Trying to build steps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQedfVg9I/AAAAAAAAAFM/hzhkSAUazxY/s1600/100_2278.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJQedfVg9I/AAAAAAAAAFM/hzhkSAUazxY/s320/100_2278.JPG" width="240" />&nbsp;</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chilling in the blocks.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPuXkxobI/AAAAAAAAAE4/8VhtVyvt65U/s1600/100_2307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TMJPuXkxobI/AAAAAAAAAE4/8VhtVyvt65U/s320/100_2307.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;But of course one of his favorite things was playing with the blocks.</div><br />We headed to pet the sharks and sting rays.&nbsp; G loved looking at them, but did not want to put his hands in the water to touch them.&nbsp; He was amazed at the fishes that were behind the glass though.<br /><br />We had a blast with our friends!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-80634183967886609362010-10-18T08:52:00.000-05:002010-10-18T08:52:53.900-05:00Visit with Great Grandma<div style="text-align: left;">Yesterday we journeyed northwest about an hour and half to visit with my father's family.&nbsp; My dad passed away 6 years ago so it is kind of a bittersweet day.&nbsp;&nbsp; My father would have loved G.&nbsp; So we met my grandmother, aunt and uncle at my grandmother's farm.&nbsp; Lots of space to run and play.&nbsp; My mother and step-father (Steve), as well as my brother, sister-in-law, niece, nephew and sister also joined us.&nbsp; Needless to say it was a family affair.&nbsp; My parents divorced when I was 8 years old, but my mom and dad always had a good relationship based on the fact that they were our parents, and that relationship also goes with my dad's family.&nbsp;</div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxNlHT2fpI/AAAAAAAAAEI/G7b5mQpuWcE/s1600/100_2154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxNlHT2fpI/AAAAAAAAAEI/G7b5mQpuWcE/s320/100_2154.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Getting the two boys to sit still and get a decent picture with great grandma was not the easiest, this is the best picture.&nbsp; Great grandma with 3 of her 4 great grandchildren.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOReTvRMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/whi3UOoZAFs/s1600/100_2110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOReTvRMI/AAAAAAAAAEM/whi3UOoZAFs/s320/100_2110.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOgwz66WI/AAAAAAAAAEY/4jlZpJr1vDk/s1600/100_2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOgwz66WI/AAAAAAAAAEY/4jlZpJr1vDk/s320/100_2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOopLfeeI/AAAAAAAAAEc/HXn1tW6xqSM/s1600/100_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOopLfeeI/AAAAAAAAAEc/HXn1tW6xqSM/s320/100_2111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>He ran and played football with Uncle Daniel, Peepaw and Cousin Andrew.&nbsp; He had a blast!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOW2oFxCI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/1aSO8Ltn4_I/s1600/100_2125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOW2oFxCI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/1aSO8Ltn4_I/s320/100_2125.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOwaG6iII/AAAAAAAAAEk/uAOgZqpqeTw/s1600/100_2134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOwaG6iII/AAAAAAAAAEk/uAOgZqpqeTw/s320/100_2134.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A good number of weekends in my childhood were spent on this farm with my brother and sister, and cousins.&nbsp; I'm glad that Gizatu gets to spend sometime where the memories are so sweet.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxObtSPfSI/AAAAAAAAAEU/eCF-bTCvhNc/s1600/100_2139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxObtSPfSI/AAAAAAAAAEU/eCF-bTCvhNc/s320/100_2139.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxO3TfhmgI/AAAAAAAAAEo/uczpw9Fd1_E/s1600/100_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxO3TfhmgI/AAAAAAAAAEo/uczpw9Fd1_E/s320/100_2143.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>He also found a moth which he was quite taken with.&nbsp; He would pick it up, look at it, try and make it fly.&nbsp;<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOrh7pN-I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Xdkgnv5xlM8/s1600/100_2122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLxOrh7pN-I/AAAAAAAAAEg/Xdkgnv5xlM8/s320/100_2122.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And one last picture with Peepaw.&nbsp; How he loves his peepaw!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-17183752082511157942010-10-14T14:59:00.000-05:002010-10-14T14:59:07.294-05:00Zoo fun with friendsGizatu and I had a playdate at the zoo with our friends <a href="http://www.apollosgal.blogspot.com/">Daphne</a> and Ben.&nbsp; It was so fun to see our two Ethiopian American boys playing together.&nbsp; Ben is about 6 months older than Gizatu and has been home for 2 years in November.&nbsp; But the boys get along well.&nbsp; It is also really nice to be with another single mother raising an ET boy.&nbsp; It has been so nice to have Daphne as I've journeyed down this road called adoption.&nbsp; She helped so much that first week we were home.&nbsp; I didn't feel like such a basket case after talking with her.&nbsp;<br /><br />So I brought my camera with me to the zoo. Pulled it out to take pictures and realized that I left the memory card at home.&nbsp; So once again FAIL.&nbsp; But thankfully Daphne had hers and sent me the pictures.&nbsp; <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMN5gdrcI/AAAAAAAAADs/N1kR1IzJ4WM/s1600/DSC_0066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMN5gdrcI/AAAAAAAAADs/N1kR1IzJ4WM/s320/DSC_0066.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMTtF4ClI/AAAAAAAAADw/62Kw8ovM31U/s1600/DSC_0049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMTtF4ClI/AAAAAAAAADw/62Kw8ovM31U/s320/DSC_0049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMdwzlHaI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1GdOl58gj-o/s1600/DSC_0058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMdwzlHaI/AAAAAAAAAD0/1GdOl58gj-o/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMi1nJS7I/AAAAAAAAAD4/SbGH5X1EX60/s1600/DSC_0070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMi1nJS7I/AAAAAAAAAD4/SbGH5X1EX60/s320/DSC_0070.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMzl279mI/AAAAAAAAAD8/s-1p-eM6Z1o/s1600/DSC_0076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcMzl279mI/AAAAAAAAAD8/s-1p-eM6Z1o/s320/DSC_0076.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcL_C0GaMI/AAAAAAAAADo/ez03MGd_ExQ/s1600/DSC_0074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcL_C0GaMI/AAAAAAAAADo/ez03MGd_ExQ/s320/DSC_0074.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcM4R7nToI/AAAAAAAAAEA/e0vJEkeuEUE/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcM4R7nToI/AAAAAAAAAEA/e0vJEkeuEUE/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" width="212" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcNCeMv6HI/AAAAAAAAAEE/1rmFbtEt-ng/s320/DSC_0072.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This one is definitely my favorite!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLcNCeMv6HI/AAAAAAAAAEE/1rmFbtEt-ng/s1600/DSC_0072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-26628277270573641652010-10-10T21:06:00.000-05:002010-10-10T21:06:27.848-05:00Another first, Church!Today we went to church for the first time.&nbsp; For me it had been 7 weeks since I had been in a service.&nbsp; For G, I truly have no idea.&nbsp; He could have gone to church before he came into the care center.&nbsp; But it was definitely his first time in a church in the States.&nbsp; We had visited the church a couple of times when there was no one there so that he'd be somewhat used to it.&nbsp;<br /><br />We got there a little after the service started and sat in the balcony.&nbsp; He made it through the beginning of the sermon.&nbsp; Then I took him into the nursery.&nbsp; We played on the floor with blocks and made a new friend.&nbsp; He didn't venture far away from me.&nbsp; We then headed to the Fellowship hall for "cookie hour".&nbsp; Needless to say he was the center of attention.&nbsp; He definitely was overwhelmed, but did really well.&nbsp; No one tried to take him out of my arms, one person did try to pick him up when he was standing next to me, but he very kindly understood why he couldn't.&nbsp; People talked to him, but stood there distance and I appreciate it more than I can say.<br /><br />I thought that he'd had enough so I headed to the Sunday School room to tell his teacher that we were going to head home, but then he saw the blocks and wanted to play some more.&nbsp; Thus we did.&nbsp; He played with the kids and ran around the room like all the other kids.&nbsp; I must say I was a proud mama.&nbsp;<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw0tKAFxI/AAAAAAAAADc/CdP3swQTp5s/s1600/100_2083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw0tKAFxI/AAAAAAAAADc/CdP3swQTp5s/s320/100_2083.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw6LMd69I/AAAAAAAAADg/CyMJHZ1eQyc/s1600/100_2090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw6LMd69I/AAAAAAAAADg/CyMJHZ1eQyc/s320/100_2090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw9DxzBEI/AAAAAAAAADk/7XKVhQmtzBw/s1600/100_2087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJw9DxzBEI/AAAAAAAAADk/7XKVhQmtzBw/s320/100_2087.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJwil1bMPI/AAAAAAAAADY/nib_3gyDcvw/s1600/100_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_t3fWFZ7-OOA/TLJwil1bMPI/AAAAAAAAADY/nib_3gyDcvw/s320/100_2080.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A few pics of Sunday school.&nbsp;Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992198131850775934.post-13377243733246484912010-10-07T14:06:00.000-05:002010-10-07T14:06:23.918-05:00Three boys from Ethiopia!So I need to start with a plea for forgiveness.&nbsp; How we made it through 3.5 hours of fun and eating without taking one single picture, I have no idea!&nbsp; But we did and thus I am sorry.&nbsp; I've kicked myself so many times for not running back to the car and getting my camera out.&nbsp; I mean I even remembered to bring it, but never actually got it out of the car.&nbsp; Oh well.&nbsp; FAIL.&nbsp; I promise next time I will remember to take out my camera and take a picture.<br /><br />D, G and G-man all remembered each other.&nbsp; It was so sweet D, the 5 year old, came up and gave G-man a kiss on the cheek.&nbsp; It was soooo sweet.&nbsp; G, the 4 year old, was little more like "exactly why are you here?"&nbsp; But they had a blast together.&nbsp; D and G introduced Gman to Barney.&nbsp; I'm so excited (that was sarcasm), but he hasn't seemed to miss it, since we have NO barney in our home.&nbsp;<br /><br />It was so good to see D and G's parents.&nbsp; It was nice to be able to talk about Ethiopia and the trip with people who understand.&nbsp; And to discuss where we are now that we are home.<br /><br />D and G are doing great for those of you who know them.&nbsp; G's molloscum is gone!&nbsp; His face is clear and he looks beautiful!&nbsp; D is as smiley and happy as ever.&nbsp; They also remembered me, mom, and Steve.&nbsp; It was a great visit and can't wait to do it again.&nbsp;Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194103914809318855noreply@blogger.com1